The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-02
An Expert Stenographer.

AkON ApAS nav = btA FC0 ftC3t
The lawyer was taking the deposition
of witness IN his office in the Mills
building The pencil of the stepographer
was moving rapidly over his paper. leav
ing behind it string of pothooks and
other absurd symbols of speech
You say you have known the defen-
dant for the past ten years. Now, want
TO ask YOU whether at any time during
that period you ever noticed any symp-
tom Of insanity in his behavior ~ contin-
ued the lawyer
At the instant the lawyer began this
query the stenographer turned to the re-
porter, who was seated by his side ar the
table, and without stopping his writing
for second whispered: Wait mo-
ment and I'll be through. This won't
last much longer"
The reporter looked anxiously at the
notes, expecting the pencil to stop its
travel, or at least al the end of the ques-
tons, retrace its steps 10 revise some
phrases Incorrectly transcibed. But it
made no such break When the lawyer
ended his inquiry the pencil stopped.
Now, sir continued the lawyer, 'you
may tell wether you were well enough
acquainted with the defendant to know
whether he showed any weakness of
mind or not?"
Before the stenographer had completed
the second line OF his report ne again
whispered TO the reporter not to be in a
hurry, and as before. concluded his work
without particle of apparent Interrupt
tion. This was the last question, and af-
ter the papers were gathered together
and the witness had left the Office, the
reporter asked the stenographer whether
he had written correctly all that was said
verbatim or had only epitomized what
had been spoken
wrote exactly what was said. Why
do You ask 7'
Can you read IT without difficulty ~
"0f course | can, otherwise | should
not be here; but why do you ask ?"
Il didn't zee how you could write
down what was being spoken and speak
to me upon another subject at the same
time"
" That is easy enough TO do respon-
ded the stenographer with a laugh,
when YOU only know how and practice
long enough Shorthand writing Is very
much Ike playing the piano or repeating
something from memory 1t Is mechan-
Ical. | found years ago when | was re-
porting in a western court, that il was
extremely useful TO be able to hear and
think of other things transpiring III the
court room than the evidence itself i
then began practicing 80 that could
train myself To do two separate things at
the same time. would mentally make
note of everything occurring around ME
and keep on with my writing At first /
would make mistake or two, but L
gradually got 50 that could hear every
thing that was said and understand it
also, notwithstanding the fact that my
pencil Was moving at the time"
| should think that when you began
to speak il would have thrown you off
your track 81
= 1t did at first | learned that by
committing % memory some poem and
repeating it while | was reporting, until
at last could carry on conversation on
almost any subject and write from dicta-
ton upon one entirely different Its a
very useful accomplishment, bot ! would
not advise you to le arm it unless you IN
tend TO become professional stenogra-
pher, and wcultn t advise that unless
you have nothing better TO do than to
break stones in the streets.